[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
It started out as a football game and it ended up as a battle of Rock'em, Sock'em Robots, with host Nanakuli throwing the knockout punch last night to beat Pearl City 28-14. OIA WHITE
Nanakuli fights past Pearl City
for first-place tie
OIA White Standings
Sabers rumble to stay in first place
Waimea beats Kauai on late touchdown
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comSeveral fights broke out at the end of the struggle for first place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference. The tussles led to two ejections. The referees eventually called the game with 47 seconds left.
The Golden Hawks (4-1) forced six Pearl City turnovers, including five in the first half when they took a slim 6-0 lead at the break.
Two long Nanakuli drives in the second half led to a commanding 20-0 edge before the Chargers (4-1) made a comeback that eventually failed.
"Our kids need to stay focused to win, and they didn't do that," Pearl City coach Onosai Tanuvasa said. "They didn't focus on the game plan."
The only comment from Al Beaver, the Nanakuli coach, was: "I've got an ugly situation I've got to take care of" as he headed to the Hawks' locker room.
Both of Nanakuli's second-half drives were helped along by several personal fouls by the Chargers, and they were finished off with runs of 9 yards by Ikaika Asinsin and 1 yard by Less Schnabel.
The closest Pearl City got was 20-7 when Jensen Cabanero fired a 40-yard scoring pass to Lee Paleafei. The teams traded a touchdown apiece -- and punches -- from there. Cabanero had plenty of time to pass all night, but he finished just 11 of 28 for 103 yards.
Asinsin, Oahu's leading rusher, was held in check with only 69 yards on 17 carries in a little over three quarters. He missed most of the fourth quarter with a possible concussion.
Nanakuli quarterback Albert Distajo came up big for the Golden Hawks on the ground. He gave Nanakuli its early 6-0 lead by breaking loose for a 55-yard TD. He added a 39-yard scoring effort for a 28-7 bulge late in the fourth quarter.
Pearl City struck once more, thanks to Paleafei's 51-yard pass to Nathaniel Nasca, which set up Hoku Yahiku's 1-yard TD dive.
Nanakuli kept Pearl City off the board in the close first half with those five turnovers. John Van Geison had two fumble recoveries and Jimmy Afamasaga recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass, while Schnabel also picked off a pass. Afamasaga added a pick late in the game to help seal the victory.
"Nanakuli has a terrific team," Pearl City's Tanuvasa said. "They've got a lot of talent. This was a frustrating loss."
At Nanakuli H.S. Field
Pearl City (4-1, 4-2) 0 0 0 14 -- 14 Nanakuli (4-1, 4-2) 6 0 6 16 -- 28 Nan -- Albert Distajo 55 run (run failed)
Nan -- Ikaika Asinsin 7 run (run failed)
Nan -- Less Schnabel 1 run (Joerel Alapai pass from Distajo)
PC -- Lee Paleafei 36 pass from Jensen Cabanero (Chris Kaaukuu kick).
Nan -- Distajo 38 run (Schnabel run)
PC -- Hoku Yahiku 1 run (Kaaukuu kick).RUSHING -- Pearl City: Michael Yamauchi-Yamate 6-32, Daylen Lii 2-1, Cabanero 3-(-1), Michael Tanuvasa 3-14, Paleafei 1-(-4), Yahiku 7-52, Jeremy Cartwright 1-(-11). Nanakuli: Asinsin 16-66, Kyle Beck 14-38, Distajo 9-110, Schnabel 11-47.
PASSING -- Pearl City: Cabanero 8-27-1-105, Paleafei 1-2-0-50. Nanakuli: Distajo 1-7-0-17.
RECEIVING -- Pearl City: Keoni Peiper 4-46, Paleafei 3-55, Nathaniel Nasta 2-54. Nanakuli: Keoni Toli 1-17 .
Junior varsity -- Nanakuli 22, Pearl City 8
Kaimuki 14, Waialua 7: Kaimuki took advantage of Waialua miscues to win a dogfight between OIA White foes both with the nickname Bulldogs.
The game started as a defensive battle as both teams' defense would bend but not break. An interception by Kaimuki at its 1-yard line as time expired ensured a scoreless tie at the half.
Kaimuki broke onto the scoreboard first, cashing in on an interception by Tupou Kuliha'apai on the second play of the third quarter. The interception set up a seven-play, 57-yard drive that was capped off with a 25-yard touchdown reception by Daniel Tautofi.
On the touchdown, Kaimuki quarterback Shelden Sarcedo lofted the ball toward the end zone. It ricocheted off Waialua defender Ikaika Castillo's helmet and into the waiting hands of Tautofi.
Waialua tried to answer back, but a drive to the Kaimuki 10-yard line yielded no points. Kaimuki used the defensive stand for momentum and drove 70 yards in seven plays on the ensuing series for another touchdown, putting Kaimuki up 14-0.
Sarcedo capped the drive by scoring on a 1-yard quarterback keeper over the right side.
Not giving up, Waialua battled back in the fourth quarter. Waialua scored on a six-play, 55-yard drive that featured running back Larry Ladao. On the drive, Ladao carried the ball four times for 44 yards and Grant Yamanouchi got Waialua on the board, scoring on a 1-yard run.
Kaimuki then fumbled the ball on the kickoff, giving Waialua another chance at the Kaimuki 22-yard line.
Waialua reached the Kaimuki 11-yard line before its offense stalled -- the third time in four chances Waialua failed to score while in the red zone.
Kellen Kawasaki led Kaimuki with 110 yards on 14 carries. Sarcedo chipped in with 72 yards. Ladao led the way for Waialua with 71 yards.
At Waialua H.S. Field
Kaimuki (4-1, 4-2) 0 0 14 0 -- 14 Waialua (2-3, 3-3) 0 0 0 7 -- 7 Kaim -- Daniel Tautofi 25 pass from Sheldon Sarcedo (Ji Min Kim kick).
Kaim -- Sarcedo 1 run (Kim kick).
Wail -- Grant Yamanouchi 1 run (Travis Siu kick).RUSHING -- Kaimuki: Darin Fujimoto 7-54, Semi Qoro 5-19, Sarcedo 12-76, Kelen Kawasaki 12-75. Waialua: Kelson Silva 1-(-5), Ladao 17-72, Pookela Gasper 6-11, Yamanouchi 1-3.
PASSING -- Kaimuki: Sarcedo 3-8-1-39. Waialua: Gasper 7-15-1-55, David Nacario 1-3-1-13.
RECEIVING -- Kaimuki: Tautofi 2-35, Josiah Kua 1-4. Waialua: Silva 3-32, Ladao 2-24, Kepa Hoikano 1-(-4), Albert Lamos 1-3, Justin Barit 1-13.
Junior varsity -- Kaimuki 42, Wailaua 0
Kapolei 38, Moanalua 7: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada scored on runs of 21 and 5 yards and threw a touchdown pass as the Hurricanes kept the Menehunes winless.
Chaves Gamboa returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown for Kapolei, which threw just three passes and ran 26 times.
At Moanalua H.S. Field Kapolei (3-2, 3-3) 13 6 19 0 -- 38 Moanalua (0-5, 0-6) 0 0 0 7 -- 7 Kap -- Chaves Gamboa 75 kickoff return (Stephen Travis kick).
Kap -- Ikaika Tan 3 run (kick failed).
Kap -- Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada 21 run (kick failed).
Kap -- Brandon Pieper 8 pass from Kaheaku-Enhada (kick failed).
Kap -- Kaheaku-Enhada 5 run (Travis kick).
Kap -- Colin Dumlao 35 run (kick failed).
Moan -- Steven Arakaki 1 run (Keone Aipia kick).RUSHING -- Kapolei: John Delarama 5-20, Gamboa 2-70, Tan 4-20, Kaheaku-Enhada 10-76, Dumlao 2-34, Kyle Albano 2-15, John Medeiros 1-5. Moanalua: Demetrius Hawkins 2-8, Noah Palmerton 13-41, Jaimie Rego 4-(-27), Wallace Coleman 12-38, Bronson Jones 2-(-5), Arakaki 2-(-20).
PASSING -- Kapolei: Kaheaku-Enhada 1-1-0-8, Medeiros 0-2-0-0. Moanalua: Rego 2-8-0-37, Arakaki 0-4-0-0
RECEIVING -- Kapolei: Pieper 1-8. Moanalua: Palmerton 1-22, Jones 1-15.
Junior varsity -- Kapolei 39, Moanalua 13
Ryan Ito contributed to this report.
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Standings
W L T PF PA Kaimuki 4 1 0 104 53 Nanakuli 4 1 0 168 102 Pearl City 4 1 0 131 62 Kaiser 3 2 0 109 82 Kapolei 3 2 0 127 56 Waialua 2 3 0 52 125 Kalani 0 5 0 22 127 Moanalua 0 5 0 62 188
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